X-Mapping®; protects your proprietary work processes, allows you to improve products and services and adds substantial value to your business
How it works
Select a topic from the menu below, then read the instructions or watch the instructional video.
Creating a New Map Give your map a title and describe in a sentence or two what the map is for. You can also select a colour for the map masthead if you wish. This colour scheme should be determined by your Mapping Manager. Colours may be assigned to departments, people or different processes. The colours simply make it more obvious which map you have opened.
The Two Views Once your new map is open you will notice two views - World View and Internal View. This enables you to plan a process and include the interactions you have with your customers (or key audiences). Their view is called the World View and appears above the central line while the work processes or tasks you undertake internally are called the Internal View and appear below the line.
The Start You will notice a black nodule in the centre left hand end of the ‘grey canvas’. This is the start point for your map. If you move your cursor onto the nodule you have two choices, either to make this first step an ‘audience action’ or ‘your action’. If you drag your cursor above the nodule a purple line appears, if you decide not to click on this it will disappear. If you drop the cursor below the nodule an orange line appears. Click on either line and a box will open. This can now become the first step of your new map.
Creating a Phase Firstly give this phase a name and then move into the text box below to explain the detail of the work required to complete this phase. You have the option of using bullet points or numbers for each step. Try to be as short and succinct as possible. Remember you can create another phase so don’t attempt to do too much with each phase.
Save the details when you are satisfied you have the complete process written.
Customer and Audience Interaction When there is an exchange, a communication or an action required that involves your audience, this will necessitate opening an activity phase above the line and detailing the required actions.
Adding a New Phase Once you have completed a phase you can think about what comes next. By moving your cursor forward towards the right hand end of the canvas, directly out from the first nodule a black line will shoot forward and another nodule will appear. By dragging your cursor onto this new nodule you are able to create a new phase either above or below the central line. If you decide that you want to place a new phase in between two existing phases then simply run your cursor along the central line to the half way point between the two nodules and a new nodule will appear. Again by shifting your cursor above or below the line you will have the option of selecting a ‘audience action’ or an ‘internal action’ for this phase. Click on the line to open a new phase box. If you decide against inserting an action phase, the lines shrink back and the nodule disappears.
Adding Budgets You may wish to cost out each phase or action. There is no separate function area for this but we do strongly advise inserting this data at the end of each phase. This can be done by adding a budget figure at the bottom of each ‘internal action’ phase box. You should consider a cost for each phase and include a total or amortised figure so that you can identify not only the cost of each phase but the incremental total at any given point.
Adding Timing When you have completed your X-Mapping® you have the option of adding times to each phase. By clicking on the 'Show Times’ button a stopwatch will appear between each nodule. By clicking on each timer you can add in the time it takes you to complete each phase. What will then show as you save it is the time it takes to complete each phase and a total time elapsed. You are unable to edit or work on any phase while the times are displayed. If you wish to edit the map you will need to click on the ‘Hide Times’.
Saving your Maps Some X-Mapping® will be easier to create than others. Some may involve a number of phases and some may be quite short. You can save your X-Mapping® at any stage of creation and come back to them at a later time.
Ongoing Support Your Maps are held on our secure server which means if you should experience problems with your filing cabinet we are able to retrieve information and address any security issues regarding staff and access.
Upgrades We are also constantly upgrading the programme and will bring you any enhancements as they come online. If you have any concerns or need assistance we are available online at any time.
